Lubricant and sealing compound



- position with such Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITEDSTIATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH H. BEIIER, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND TRUSTCOMPANY,

. I 7 -OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

' LUBB-ICANTAN'D SEALING COMPOUND.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to sealin compositions, and particularly to one ated to serve, in some instances, as Ya In ricant, and which at the sametime will not be cut, disintegrated or dissolved b contact withpetroleum distillat'es, such or instance as gasoline, benzine, naptha,etc.

Gauges for use in connection with gasoline'containers to determine thelevel or 10 quantit of gasoline therein, have moving 'parts t e bearingsof which are exposed to the gasoline. It is desirable to use a comaugesthat will serve as a seal to prevent t e passage or escape of anygasoline vapors through the bearings of the gauges to the outside of thetank or to such electrical connections as may be associated with levelindicating instrumentali ties. It is also desirable that such sealing 2ocomposition shall serve, in a measure, as a lubricant which will not beout or dissolved by contact with gasoline or gasoline vapor. Such acomposition is especially desirable where moving gau e parts extendoutside of the gasoline tan]? and particularly when such parts haveassociated electrical connections.

Stufiing boxes filled with sea soap with out any softening agent haveheretoforebeen proposed for this service, but the soap becomes dry andhardens very soon after installation and often it will temporarilycement the moving parts and prevent their proper operation. hecomposition herein proposed has a softening agent added to it thatpermanently maintains it in a soft .jelly -like consistency similar topetroleum e purpose of the present invention 1s 0 to rovideacomposition, preferably of softjel y-like consistenc which will serveboth as a lubricant an as a seal for moving parts and that will not beafi'ected by the action of gasolineor similar grease-attacking liauidsand that will not harden or become ry with age Another objectof theinvention is to provide a composition of this character that will'notreadily melt at ordinary temperaao tures and drain from the parts towluch it is plied.

a composition formed in accordance soft Application filed August 14,1925. Serial No. 50,268.

with this invention consists, in its referred form, of the followingmain ingre ents:

Glycerine 2 pounds Corn starch 4 ounces tinuously while boiling, causingthe mixture,

to be converted into a substantially homogeneous composition ofjelly-like consistency. The composition mayalso be formed by usingstarch previously hydrolized by the action of a dilute acid or an enzymeby which the elements of water are added to the starch structure andthen adding the glycerine while boilin The purpose of boil ing, afterthe addition of the glycerine to the hydrolized starch, is to convertthe mixture into a homogeneous jelly-like consistency.

This should produce a composition of composition of,

{:11 -like form, the desired consistency of w ie 1, to meettherequirements of the particular use, is determined by the quantity ofthinning water added.

It -is found in practice that this composition, in addition to servin asa lubricant for instrument bearings, joints and openings against theescape of gasoline and other grease attacking liquids or vaporstherethrough. It is for this reason admirably adapted for use in thebearings and packing glands for shafts of gaso-' line level indicatingdevices, where such shafts project throu h a wall of the asso ciatedcontainer an communicate movements from a float to an indicating means,

will elfectually seal a ed to be used on operating parts submerged ingasoline or other hydrocarbons.

Although corn starch has been found to be particularly well suited foruse in making the composition herein disclosed, other forms ofstarch mayalso be used to form a jell that is not miscible with petroleumdistillates but which may be permanently softened by the addition ofglycerine or other non-drying compounds of the poly- 5 hydroxy-alcoholgroup such as glycol, producing a compound that does not lose itsjelly-like consistency at ordinary temperatures. The 11 :drolized starchand glycerine composition erein proposed is 'gdmirably adapted for usein connection wit moving parts of an "indicator and the like that areassociated with gasoline containers.

What I claim is:

1. A sealing and lubricating composition Which is substantiallyhomogeneous and of jelly-like consistency and which is composed ofglycerine and a sufiicient quantity of starch, which is at leastpartially hydrolized, to impart the desired consistency to thecomposition, the glycerine and starch being substantially in theproportion by weight of eight parts of glycerine to one part of starch.

2. The method of making a lubricant and joint sealing compound of theclass described, consisting in mixing glycerine and corn starch insubstantially the proportions of two pounds of the former to four ouncesof the latter, adding water to thin to a predetermined consistency, andthen boiling approximately for ten minutes While stirring continuously.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

7 RALPH H. REITER.

